Many years ago I had to choose between buying my first proportional radio system and a Rogallo hang glider, they were both £250! If I had chosen the latter, my wife and parents weren't keen, there's a good chance that I wouldn't be here now to tell the tale. A number of my old model flying buddies who took up full size flying haven't survived the experience. I know a few full size pilots and most of them tell of close calls they have had. That said, I still do like flying in light aircraft and microlights, but I do realise that accidents can and do happen.

Me, Charlie and Graham braved the 40mph (gusting 50) winds today at Thurnham. After about 45 mins we gave up as it went further round to the west. Andy turned up and we put the world to rights in the car park waiting for the wind to drop but it didn't..

My name is Aleix, and I am originally from Barcelona, though I have been living in London for over 10 years. I used to build and fly radio control planes since I was a kid (I'm now 37) and I left the hobby during 15 years. I picked up the hobby in the last 4 years, and I got hooked to F3F flying..... did some international events already but I would like to do more. Until now I kept my planes in Barcelona so I could only fly counted times when I would go there for holidays.

This year I decided to bring my planes to London, so I am no looking for slopes to fly. I live in Central London (elephant and Castle) and would like to go flying from this weekend, if the conditions allow us.I have no car, so that is my main problem at the moment, as I would require a lift from the train station. I would like to fly either in Ivinghoe Beacon or Turnham.

Anyone that would like to go this weekend? I need to try my planes before a competition next week.

I'm sure one of us will be able to help you at some point but it's not looking too promising for flying at Thurnham this weekend from a weather perspective.I live fairly near West Malling station and have picked people up and taken them to Thurnham before so when the conditions are right I can do that for you too.

Would be great to go this weekend actually. Yes I am going to la Muela next wednesday. Unfrotunatly I had 2 accidents in my last race in Vitoria, and I didn't repair the planes since. I did fix them compleatly and they are ready to go, but the CG is somewhat to be adjusted, aswell as the surfaces.... I also have a new template on the radio.... so a few things I want to adjust before the event.

I am ok to travel by train, even if it is saturday and sunday... Wouldnt' hurt to get both days....but one is also ok...

Just been watching Paul's old videos on Vimeo. It was always sunny, the wind was always great, we seemed to fly some right turkeys and smash them a lot, but had a great time all the same. Let's do more of it this summer!

It's too far out and variable to know what the wind direction will be Aleix. Thurnham needs a SW ideally but if it looks good for that the day before I'm sure either myself or another regualr flyer will be able to give you a lift.

Excellent day's flying at Thurnham yesterday amongst friends and blessed with fine weather. However a couple of crashes occurred . Si wiped out my poor little Graupner 'Terry', although I did offer it up as a sacrifice in the combat session and the attack on my tiny aircraft resulted in a vertical dive to halfway down the slope, but it is repairable and will live to fly again another day! . Mike from the Bickley club brought along his 1/3rd scale K8 which was unfortunately caught by a gust just after launch and it side-slipped into the ground making a mess of the fuselage, but the wing and tail group survived intact. Mike says it also is repairable and that he'll have another fuselage built in a few days and it will be back on the slope again in the very near future.

When Joe and I arrived at 9am, we noticed that there was a lot of fast food joint's litter dumped in the lay-by, thrown there by the night-time visitors to the lane. So when I left at about 4:30pm, I picked up all of it and on the way home, deposited the couple of bags of rubbish in the local litter bins. It will be interesting to see how much accumulates by next weekend!

Just to let you know that Joe took his Silent Flight Electric “A” test with me on Saturday. This was his second try at it and he passed with flying colours. It just goes to show how important preparation is. I am sure he wouldn’t mind me saying he was a little shaky the week before but this time he was spot on.Congratulations Joe.

When Joe and I arrived at 9am, we noticed that there was a lot of fast food joint's litter dumped in the lay-by, thrown there by the night-time visitors to the lane. So when I left at about 4:30pm, I picked up all of it and on the way home, deposited the couple of bags of rubbish in the local litter bins. It will be interesting to see how much accumulates by next weekend!

I visited Thurnham this afternoon for a quick fly to blow the cobwebs away.It was good to see that there wasn't a single piece of litter in the lay-by. It is said that the presence of litter encourages more litter, so maybe the lack of it in the lay-by has had the desired result - one can live in hope.

I cleared about 20Kg of dumped flyers (the paper kind!) from the Wrotham lay by a couple of weeks ago. Awful people doing stuff like that...

Simon

Model flyers are not exempt. Walking from the trade to the showline at the Nats last year I collected an armful of wrappers, cups, burger boxes. Returning an hour later, I collected another armful! In ONE hour...

You are all welcome to attend the Bickley MFC Bring and Buy on Saturday and our Electric flight event on Sunday. Flying both days. No entry fee but £5 if you are selling.There will be tea, coffee, cakes and ice creams etc. on both days. Probably a lot of alcohol in the evening.We have arranged for sunshine, warm weather and light winds for both days.

Eric, I nearly joined you yesterday but my afternoon was scuppered by some work agro. The rest of the week is startingto look warmer and floatier....

Actually you didn't miss much, Paul.Joe was there as well and neither of us enjoyed the bumpy turbulent conditions in the strong cold SSW wind even though it was sunny.Here's hoping for a nice floaty session sometime soon.

Sorry Mark, can't join you as there are a number of family things to do over the weekend so can only make short forays to local sloping sites between 'appointments'!Have a great session and don't forget the sunscreen.

Good day at Bickley Swap meet today. Got a small set of screwdrivers to add to my flight box. Was very pleasing to see Erics New MPX Heron Flying at Bickley, and indeed at Concord Model Club where we had some group Glider flying.

Not much lift around, makes you appreciate how lucky we are to have the slopes nearby.

Hi Jef, We haven't heard from you since last June. I hope you are keeping well.Cheers, Eric

Hi Eric

Thanks for the above, only just read it as have been busy blowing bubbles of bottled compressed air into the Red Sea again.

Hope you are well.

I have been keeping an eye on the slopey type goings-on here, just haven't had the need to comment.

Cycling has gripped my family, and as they are happy to do something with me, that takes precedence over all other interests... also I seem to have a certain level of fitness in my legs, which I seem to need to keep topped up, with more theft of time from my precious weekends.

However, my thumbs are feeling the need to do some stick stirring again.

And although I am a thermal soarer first and foremost, I would feel safer flying on a slope for a couple of hours, with a small friendly group than thermal soaring where less people may be available to help me should I need assistance. The flying of a foam wing would seem to be a good idea to start off with, as my flying skills are definitely questionable. The last few flying sessions I've had (since July 16, when Dad thermalled off to the next phase) have all written off very good models.

I also still have an alien affliction known as "Work" and worse still, one week in four I have the most unnatural "On Call" disease.

Hi Jef, Good to hear from you.Yes, we'll be doing our usual Longest Day session and hope to be flying 'en masse' as the sun sets a few minutes after 9pm on the 21st of June. I'm sure you haven't forgotten how to fly, unless you have been having some senior moments. It sounds as though you've been keeping active enough to keep the advancing years at bay. We'll be looking forward to seeing you on the slope at Thurnham before long.All the best.Eric